Don't skip your pre-trip inspections!

[GravelRider]

Last weekend on the way out to our campsite, a boondocking spot through Harvest Host, I heard a strange sound coming from the suspension just a mile or two from our campsite. Once we got parked, I checked the suspension and found this:





We were about 200 miles from home on a Saturday late afternoon. I called around to every RV dealer in about a 75 mile radius, and none of them carried ANY suspension parts. They all said they replace the entire suspension system under warranty generally, so don't carry any suspension parts. I couldn't believe none of them carried ANY shackles.

Luckily, a local Tractor Supply had 2 1/2" shackles and bolts in stock. The shackles on my trailer were 2 1/4," but that was close enough to get me back on the road and back home. Though, I'll be looking for some heavy duty shackles to replace the cheap stock ones.

What a pain to replace at the campsite...





Thankfully this wasn't much worse. I shudder to think of what would have happened if it would have gone while on the interstate. We had some REAL rough roads along the way which certainly contributed to the damage... But I should have been checking the suspension more closely, as I'm sure there were warning signs earlier. I do pre-trip inspections every time, but I think I may have gotten a bit lax on checking some parts real closely.

So just a reminder to everyone, do your pre-trip inspections carefully, and don't skimp out on checking what needs to be checked!

[BRinSCupstate]

Wow, that's a lot of wear! Glad you caught that when you did. I have never seen shackles wear like that. Is that on the 2021 Grey Wolf 22MKSE in your profile?

[tomkatb]

The expression is ducked a bad one.

We were not so lucky. Our bolt broke. Cost $7500 to repair.

Fortunately we discovered the issue before the fifth wheel did something terrible.

If it were me I would replace all bolts shackles etc. wet bolts.

In China quality is on no one’s mind. Crap steel.

[simiHal]

Yikes! Glad you caught it. Time to not just replace but upgrade all of them.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by BRinSCupstate

Wow, that's a lot of wear! Glad you caught that when you did. I have never seen shackles wear like that. Is that on the 2021 Grey Wolf 22MKSE in your profile?

It sure surprised the hell out of me. Yes, it's on the 2021 22MKSE. I've towed it about 20,000 miles, including doing a lot of bumping around on dirt roads boondocking. I think this added to the premature wear... Though I still would not have expected this.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by tomkatb

The expression is ducked a bad one.

We were not so lucky. Our bolt broke. Cost $7500 to repair.

Fortunately we discovered the issue before the fifth wheel did something terrible.

If it were me I would replace all bolts shackles etc. wet bolts.

In China quality is on no one’s mind. Crap steel.

Originally Posted by simiHal

Yikes! Glad you caught it. Time to not just replace but upgrade all of them.

I plan to replace all of them with upgraded parts that have grease fittings during the offseason. I'm leaning toward the MORyde set I think.

[Mr. Dan]

I’ve also been there. I had made it to a campground and noticed the trailer was leaning on a perfectly level concrete site pad. I climbed under and found this:

The nearby service center where I’d had a couple of big jobs done told me they could get me in in 3 months.
I ordered a spring shackle/wet bolt kit

sent to my home 35 miles away and my brother and his son-in-law came and helped me make the swap.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

I’ve also been there. I had made it to a campground and noticed the trailer was leaning on a perfectly level concrete site pad. I climbed under and found this:
Attachment 281121
The nearby service center where I’d had a couple of big jobs done told me they could get me in in 3 months.
I ordered a spring shackle/wet bolt kit
Attachment 281122
sent to my home 35 miles away and my brother and his son-in-law came and helped me make the swap.
Attachment 281123
Attachment 281124

That actually makes me feel better. I figured if it would have snapped that it would have been much worse, at any speed. Still happy I found it when I did though.

So you replaced the leaf springs too?

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by GravelRider

That actually makes me feel better. I figured if it would have snapped that it would have been much worse, at any speed. Still happy I found it when I did though.

So you replaced the leaf springs too?

No, I didn’t replace leaf springs — only the parts in the kit shown in my 2nd pic.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

No, I didn’t replace leaf springs — only the parts in the kit shown in my 2nd pic.

That's the same kit I'm looking at doing for mine. How do you like yours? Any problems with it?

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by GravelRider

That's the same kit I'm looking at doing for mine. How do you like yours? Any problems with it?

I’m happy with the kit. It’s out of sight, out of mind. There are instructions on how to orient the wet bolts and we got up & down right BUT we didn’t point their grease fittings to the inside. Now I have to remove wheels to grease wet bolts correctly. I wasn’t the one under the trailer and didn’t think to give instructions.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

I’m happy with the kit. It’s out of sight, out of mind. There are instructions on how to orient the wet bolts and we got up & down right BUT we didn’t point their grease fittings to the inside. Now I have to remove wheels to grease wet bolts correctly. I wasn’t the one under the trailer and didn’t think to give instructions.

Good to know!

Have you tried using a 90 degree adapter on your grease gun, like this, to avoid taking the wheels off?

https://www.amazon.com/Slippery-Pete...-3-spons&psc=1

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by GravelRider

Good to know!

Have you tried using a 90 degree adapter on your grease gun, like this, to avoid taking the wheels off?

https://www.amazon.com/Slippery-Pete...-3-spons&psc=1

Now that you mention it, I DO have a 90 deg. adapter.

[Freedom2016]

Following

[IamProStreet]

Or replace the fittings with 90° ones, obviously you will have to find out what size thread they are. Auto parts stores should have them if you bring one of yours to match the size.

Check this out! https://a.co/d/0lxIxbZ

[sherman12]

Gotta love Amazon!

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by IamProStreet

Or replace the fittings with 90° ones, obviously you will have to find out what size thread they are. Auto parts stores should have them if you bring one of yours to match the size.

Check this out! https://a.co/d/0lxIxbZ

I’m familiar with 90 and 45 degree fittings but it’s much easier for me to use my 90 degree grease gun adapter than to get the correct 90 degree grease fittings and to install them. Thanks anyway.

[Volvodriver]

On the way from Abilene to Boerne in August of 2021 cracked a leaf spring on door side of the axles. Called Bobby's out of Kerrville and he and his son came out to the campground and looked it over. He advised us to change both sets of leafs and all shackle parts. Did it right in the campground and did good work. Nine years and 100k on the rig so I think we got good use of the parts. Repairs were not cheap but it's worth it to have a quality job. He discounted for a cash deal.

Dave

[Elcheapo]

I picked up my new 2022 salem crusie lite 171rbxl and ordered a wet bolt shackle kit and replaced the plastic bushings which had all ready started to wear out with very few miles on them.

[snoopy1]

Looking at your situation, something appears to be bent! Or maybe miss aligned,in any event you got home. I'm surprised its worn out so fast!
Snoopy